Image reading apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to an image reading apparatus provided with an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as an ADF). The apparatus enables registration of image data as one piece of data even when a document is read as a number of bundles (each bundle includes at least one page and is not more than the loading capacity of the ADF). Owing to this, when document images are divided into two or more bundles for successive reading, different read settings can be determined for the different bundles.

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.09/537,728, filed Mar. 30, 2000, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus for readinga document image fed by an automatic document feeder and registering theread image in a hard disk, for example.

In this type of image reading apparatus, the automatic document feeder(ADF) has a predetermined loading capacity. When a document whose totalweight exceeds the loading capacity is registered as one document,successive reading is performed.

In the successive reading, the pages of the document placed on the ADF(i.e., the first bundle of the document) are read, during which thepages that should be subsequently read are designated. When these pages,i.e., another bundle (second bundle) of the document, are placed on theADF and read, they are registered together with the first bundle of thedocument.

It should be noted that the first bundle and the second bundle are readunder the same read conditions, and different read conditions cannot bedetermined for them.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an image readingapparatus which divides document images into two or more bundles forsuccessive reading, and which enables different read conditions to bedetermined for different bundles.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image readingapparatus which divides document images into two or more bundles forsuccessive reading, and which enables results of a read operation foreach bundle to be confirmed.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an imagereading apparatus which divides document images into two or more bundlesfor successive reading, and which enables results of a read operationfor each bundle to be edited.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an image readingapparatus which divides document images into two or more bundles forsuccessive reading, and which can cope with an abnormal situation duringthe read operation for a bundle by restoring that bundle into theoriginal state.

To achieve these objects, the present invention provides an imagereading apparatus comprising: setting means for setting a sequentialdocument in units of one bundle; settings-entering means for enteringread settings for the document set by the setting means; reading meansfor sequentially reading each bundle of the document set by the settingmeans in units of one page on the basis of the read settings entered bythe settings-entering means; recording means for recording image data onthe document read by the reading means such that the image datacorresponding to one bundle are recorded together; alteration means foraltering the read settings entered by the settings-entering means when asecond or subsequent bundle of the document is set by the setting means;and processing means for causing the reading means to read the documentset by the setting means in units of one page and for causing resultantread images to be recorded by the recording means.

The present invention also provides an image reading apparatuscomprising: setting means for setting a sequential document in units ofone bundle; settings-entering means for entering read settings for thedocument set by the setting means; reading means for sequentiallyreading each bundle of the document set by the setting means in units ofone page on the basis of the read settings entered by thesettings-entering means; recording means for recording image data on thedocument read by the reading means such that the image datacorresponding to one bundle are recorded together; and output means foroutputting read results which represent how the reading means reads eachbundle of the document and also outputting recording results whichrepresent how the recording means operates.

Further, the present invention provides an image reading apparatuscomprising: setting means for setting a sequential document in units ofone bundle; settings-entering means for entering read settings for thedocument set by the setting means; reading means for sequentiallyreading each bundle of the document set by the setting means in units ofone page on the basis of the read settings entered by thesettings-entering means; recording means for recording image data on thedocument read by the reading means such that the image datacorresponding to one bundle are recorded together; designation means fordesignating an alteration of an order in which the image data recordedby the recording means and corresponding to the bundles of the documentare arranged; and alteration means for altering the order, in which theimage data recorded by the recording means and corresponding to thebundles of the document are arranged, such that the order is based onthe designation made by the designation means.

Still further, the present invention provides an image reading apparatuscomprising: setting means for setting a sequential document in units ofone bundle; settings-entering means for entering read settings for thedocument set by the setting means; reading means for sequentiallyreading each bundle of the document set by the setting means in units ofone page on the basis of the read settings entered by thesettings-entering means; recording means for recording image data on thedocument read by the reading means such that the image datacorresponding to one bundle are recorded together; and processing means,operating when abnormality occurs during read processing which thereading means performs with respect to one of the bundles of thedocument, for deleting from the recording means image data correspondingto a bundle for which the abnormality occurs, and for restoring thebundle to the original state.

Moreover, the present invention provides an image reading apparatuscomprising: setting means for setting a sequential document in units ofone bundle; settings-entering means for entering read settings for thedocument set by the setting means; reading means for sequentiallyreading each bundle of the document set by the setting means in units ofone page on the basis of the read settings entered by thesettings-entering means; recording means for recording image data on thedocument read by the reading means such that the image datacorresponding to one bundle are recorded together; first alterationmeans for altering the read settings entered by the settings-enteringmeans when the setting means sets a second and subsequent bundles of thedocument; first processing means for causing the reading means to readthe document set by the setting means such that the document is read inunits of one page on the basis of the read settings altered by the firstalteration means, and for controlling the recording means to record readimages; output means for outputting read results which represent how thereading means reads each bundle of the document and also outputtingrecording results which represent how the recording means operates;designation means for designating an alteration of an order in which theimage data recorded by the recording means and corresponding to thebundles of the document are arranged; second alternation means foraltering an order in which the image data recorded by the recordingmeans and corresponding to the bundles of the document are arranged; andsecond processing means, operating when abnormality occurs during readprocessing which the reading means performs with respect to one of thebundles of the document, for deleting from the recording means imagedata corresponding to a bundle for which the abnormality occurs, and forrestoring the bundle to the original state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the schematic structure of an imageprocessing system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the schematic structure of the imageprocessing system.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the schematic structure of a digitalcopying machine.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the schematic structure of acontroller.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating scan processing.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing how the image processing system readspages belonging to one document.

FIGS. 7-14 shows examples of messages displayed in the liquid crystaldisplay section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described withreference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the schematic structure of an imageprocessing system 1 according to one embodiment of the presentinvention.

The image reading system 1 comprises: an image reading section 2including an automatic document feeder (ADF) which serves as a documentfeeder means and which feeds pages constituting a document D one by one;an image storage section 3 for reading an image read by the imagereading section 2; a display input section 4 including a touch panelwhich shows operation guides to the user and permits the user to entervarious commands; an image processing section 5 for processing a readimage (e.g. rotating the image); an image retaining section 6 forstoring an image read by the image reading section 2 or an imageprocessed by the image processing section 5; a communicating section 7connected to a communication line and executing communication withreference to devices on a network; and a controller 8 for controllingthe sections described above.

FIG. 2 shows an example of an environment under which the image readingsystem is used.

As shown in FIG. 2, the image reading system 1 has a high-speed imagereading capacity. It is made up of a digital copying machine 11 which isused in common to a plurality of users, and a controller 12 whichregisters an image supplied from the digital copying machine 11 andoutputs the registered image. A file server 13 for storing a variety ofdata and a plurality of client PCs 14 (i.e., personal computers)individually used by different users, are connected to the image readingsystem 1 though a communication line 15. Thus, the image reading system1 is used in a network environment.

The internal structure of the digital copying machine 11 will beexplained, referring to FIG. 3.

The digital copying machine 11 is provided with a main control section20 for controlling the entirety of the machine. Although not shown, themain control section 20 includes a CPU (a central processing unit) forcontrolling the operation, a ROM (a Rend only memory) for storingsoftware used for operating the digital copying machine 11, and a RAM (arandom access memory) (an S-RAM) for temporarily storing image data andother kinds of operation data.

To the main control section 20, an automatic document feeder (ADF) 21, ascanner section 22, a printer section 23, a control panel 24, an imageprocessing section 25, a page memory 26, an HDD 27, and a controllerinterface 28 are connected.

The ADF 21 is an automatic document feeder serving as a feed means. Itis arranged on the upper surface of the main body and automaticallyfeeds the pages of the document D set on a document tray (not shown) toa document table (not shown). When a document D made up of a pluralityof pages and constituting a predetermined number of units is placed onthe document tray, the pages of the document D are fed one by one.

The document D is placed on the document tray 9 a of the ADF 9, with theside to be read being turned upward. The pages of the document D aresequentially fed one by one, beginning with the lowermost one.

The scanner section 22 scans the document D placed on the documenttable, thereby obtaining image data on the document D.

The printer section 23 prints the image data read from the document D orprints image data externally supplied thereto.

The control panel 24 is used as a display/input section. It is made upof a liquid crystal display section 24 a incorporating a touch panel,and a hard key, such as a ten-key pad. Various operation commands anddesignation settings are entered from the touch panel and the hard key.Operation guides and guide messages indicating the kind of an error aredisplayed on the liquid crystal display section 24 a.

The image processing section 25 performs rotation processing withrespect to the document image read from the scanner section 22.

The page memory 26 registers image data supplied from the imageprocessing section 25.

The HDD 27 is an external storage device and is exemplified by a harddisk for storing various kinds of data. When a number of copies aremade, images corresponding to a plurality of pages of the document arecompressed and registered. At the time of printing, the compressedimages are read out and printed. The HDD 27 registers image data on adocument D set on the document tray of the ADF 21, made up of a numberof pages, constituting a predetermined units. The HDD 27 is providedwith a maximal image data capacity.

The controller interface 28 is connected to the controller 12 andexchanges data therewith.

The internal structure of the control circuit of the controller 12 willbe described with reference to FIG. 4.

The controller 12 is made of a personal computer and is provided with acontrol section 31 for controlling the entirety. To the control section31, the following are connected: an operation section 32 made up of akeyboard and a display section; an HDD 33 for registering image data; acopying machine interface 34 connected to the controller interface 28 ofthe digital copying machine 1; and a communication interface 35connected to a network through the communication line 15.

The control section 31 processes image data on a sequential document asone piece of data and stores it in the HDD 33.

The control section 31 includes a memory section 31 a. In this memorysection 31 a, the recording capacity corresponding to the image data oneach bundle of sequential document stored in the HDD 33 and a totalrecording capacity are accumulatively registered.

The control section 31 determines that abnormality occurs when the totalrecording capacity corresponding to a sequential document exceeds amaximal image data capacity.

The HDD 33 stores image data supplied from the digital copying machine11 and is provided with a maximal image data capacity.

The HDD 27 of the digital copying machine 11 is used when a plurality ofcopies are made from one original document. The HDD 33 of the controller12 is used when read image data is transmitted through a network.

A description will be given as to how the pages of the document D set onthe tray of the ADF 21 are sequentially read and registered. Thedescription will be given, referring to the flowchart shown in FIG. 5.

EXAMPLE OF REGISTRATION 1

Let is be assumed that one sequential document D contains differenttypes of pages. Since it is desired that the read settings be changed inthe midst of the processing of the document, the sequential document isdivided into a plurality of bundles.

By way of example, let us take a 40-sheet, 50-page document, wherein the1st to 10th sheets are 10-page single-sided texts, the 11th to 20thsheets are 10-page single-sided monochromatic diagrams, the 21st to 30thsheets are 10-page single-sided color catalogs, and the 31st to 40thsheets are 20-page double-sided accompanying papers. A description willbe given as to how this sequential document D will be registered as onepiece of (consecutive) image data.

In this case, the 31st to 40th sheets, namely, double-side 20 pagesaccompanying papers, are handled as the first bundle of the document D,and are set on the document tray of the ADF 21, with the sides to beread being directed upward. Then, the 21st to 30th sheets, namely, thesingle-sided 10-page color catalogs, are handled as the second bundle ofthe document D, and are set on the document tray of the ADF 21, with thesides to be read being directed upward. Subsequently, the 11th to 20thsheets, namely, the single-sided 10-page monochromatic diagrams, arehandled as the third bundle of the document D, and are set on thedocument tray of the ADF 21, with the sides to be read being directedupward. Lastly, the 1st to 10th sheets, namely, the single-sided 10-pagetexts, are handled as the fourth bundle of the document D, and are seton the document tray of the ADF 21, with the sides to be read beingdirected upward.

The reason for handling the document as several bundles is to enabledifferent read-settings to be determined for the different bundles. Insome cases, a document has to be handled as a number of bundles forother reasons, such as the loading capacity of the ADF 21, and the limitof the number of sheets that the copying machine 1 can read as onebundle (the total image data size of one bundle).

The registrant designates new image registration by operating the liquidcrystal display section 24 a. In response to this, the main controlsection 20 determines whether or not a new read job has been started (ST1), and causes the liquid crystal display section 24 a to display aselection menu, on which the printer function, management function, scanfunction, etc. can be selected. On the basis of the display menu, theregistrant selects the selects the scan function. On the basis of theselection of the scan function, the main control section 20 indicates avariety of job icons registered beforehand.

The job icons are used to enter scan parameters, such as the order ofregistration, a read mode, a color mode, a resolution, a density, adocument size, double/single-sided mode, image rotation, etc. The orderof registration is either a normal order or a reverse order. The readmode is either a photographic mode or a text mode. The color mode iseither a color mode or a monochromatic mode. The resolution is 200 dpi,400 dpi or 600 dpi. The density is either auto or manual. The documentsize is one of A4 size, B4 size, B5 size, etc. The double/single-sidedmode is either a double-sided read mode or a single-sided read mode. Theimage rotation is one of 0°, 90°, 180° and 270° rotations.

One of the job icons is selected on the basis of the indicationsthereon. In the present case, the selection of the job icon determinesthe scan parameters in such a manner that the order of registration is a“reverse order”, the read mode is “text”, the color mode is“monochromatic”, the resolution is “400 dpi”, the density is “auto”, thedocument size is “A4 size”, the double/single-sided mode is a“double-sided” mode, and the image rotation is “0°.”

At this stage, no designation has been made as to whether or notsuccessive reading is to be executed.

Then, the registrant sets the 31st to 40th sheets, namely, double-sided20 pages accompanying papers, on the document tray of the ADF 21 as thefirst bundle of the document D (ST 2). After confirming the list of theread settings displayed on the control panel 24 (ST 3), the registrantpresses either the start button or the start icon of the liquid crystaldisplay section 24 a to designate the start (ST 5).

It is possible to designate alteration of the read settings in the statewhere the list of the read settings of Step ST 3 is displayed. In thiscase, the settings are altered on the settings alteration menu (ST 4),either the start button or the start icon of the liquid crystal displaysection 24 a is depressed to designate the start (ST 5).

Since the list of the read settings is kept displayed, the registrantcan confirm whether or not alteration is required.

In response to the designation of the start, the lowermost sheet of thedocument D is conveyed by the ADF 21. The image on one side of thatsheet document D is read by the scanner section 22, and the image datais stored in the page memory 26. The scanner section 22 performs theread operation on the basis of the scan parameters of the scanner job.

When image data corresponding to one page are recorded in the pagememory 26, the main control section 20 outputs one-page image data ofthe page memory 26 to the controller 12 on the basis of the inquiry fromthe control section 31 of the controller 12. Accordingly, the controlsection 31 of the controller 12 records the supplied one-page image datain the HDD 33.

In the meantime, the control section 31 of the controller 12 causes thememory section 31 a to accumulatively record the recording capacity ofthe image data group for each bundle of a document, along with the totalrecording capacity.

Then, the ADF 21 inverts the document D so as to read the other side ofthe document D. The image data on the second side are recorded in thepage memory 26.

When image data corresponding to one page are recorded in the pagememory 26, the main control section 20 outputs one-page image data ofthe page memory 26 to the controller 12 on the basis of the inquiry fromthe control section 31 of the controller 12. Accordingly, the controlsection 31 of the controller 12 records the supplied one-page image datain the HDD 33.

In the meantime, the control section 31 of the controller 12 causes thememory section 31 a to accumulatively record the recording capacity ofthe image data group for each bundle of a document, along with the totalrecording capacity. Thereafter, the processing returns to the feeding ofthe pages of the document D.

The processing starting from the feeding of the pages and ending to theaccumulative recording processing of the image data capacity isrepeated.

During the processing for the first bundle, the registrant may designatean interruption (by depressing the stop key of the control panel 22).Alternatively, it may happen that an unrecoverable error may occur inthe digital copying machine 11 or the controller 12 (jamming of adocument D or a recording error in the HDD 33) (ST 6). In this case, themain control section 20 determines that the read operation should beinterrupted and deletes the image data from the HDD 33. In addition, themain control section 20 deletes the capacity accumulatively recorded inthe memory section 31 a, and the read job is therefore put to an end.(ST 17).

When the processing for the first bundle is being executed, the maincontrol section 20 controls the liquid crystal display section 24 a todisplay the number of pages subjected to image reading until then, andalso display the number of image recording pages (ST 7). On the liquidcrystal display section 24 a, the message “Reading Continued?” and theicon used for selecting the successive reading operation are keptdisplayed.

When the processing for the first bundle is being processed, the controlsection 31 determines whether or not the total recording capacity of thesequential document recorded in the memory section 31 a has exceeded themaximal image data capacity (limit size). If the determination showsthat the total recording capacity has exceeded the maximal image datacapacity, the control section 31 determines that the first bundle hasexceeded the limitations. Based on this determination, the controlsection 31 deletes the image data on the bundle from the HDD 33 and alsodeletes the accumulative recording capacity corresponding to the bundle.In this manner, the main control section 20 deletes the image data fromthe page memory, thus completing the read job (ST 17).

When the processing for the first bundle is completed in a normalmanner, that is, when all pages of the documents D set on the documenttray of the ADF 21 have been fed and the image data read therefrom havebeen recorded in the HDD 33, the main control section 20 and the controlsection 31 determine the end of the reading of the bundle (ST 9).

If the successive reading is not selected (designated) by the registrant(ST 10), the main control section 20 controls the liquid crystal displaysection 24 a to display all read results, “Delete”, “UP” and “DOWN”icons for editing, and the guide message “Registration of Document?”along with “YES” and “NO”icons (ST 12), as shown in FIG. 8.

When the “YES” icon is depressed on the menu, the control section 31records the image data corresponding to one bundle in the HDD 33 as onegroup of document image data group (ST 14). Thereafter, the main controlsection 20 and the control section 31 complete the read job (ST 15).

If the successive reading is selected (designated) by the registrant inStep 10 described above, the main control section 20 controls the liquidcrystal section 24 a to show the scan parameters and results ofprocessing corresponding to the first bundle (ST 11), as shown in FIG.7. At the time, the liquid crystal control section 24 a displays themessage indicating that the number of times of repetition corresponds tothe completion of one bundle, the order of registration is the reverseorder, the read mode (read settings) is “text”, the color mode is“monochromatic”, the resolution is “400 dpi”, the document size is “A4”,the double/single-sided mode is the “double-sided” mode, the imagerotation is “0°”, the number of read pages is “20”, and the read datasize is 360 KB. Simultaneous with this, the “All Deletion”, “BundleDeletion”, “Read Completion”, “Settings Alteration”, and “Read Start”icons are displayed.

The “All Deletion” icon is depressed when the image data correspondingto all bundles of the sequential document are deleted from the HDD 33.The “Bundle Deletion” icon is depressed when the image datacorresponding to one of the bundles of the sequential document aredeleted from the HDD 33. The “Read Completion” icon is depressed whenthe read job is finished. The “Settings Alteration” icon is depressedwhen the scanner parameters used for the last bundle are altered. The“Read Start” icon is depressed when the reading of the document set onthe ADF 21 is started.

The menu described above is kept displayed until the registrant enters acommand. On the menu, results are displayed, a warning message is shown,and recommendable settings are indicated.

When the reading of the next bundle is started in this display state,i.e., when the registrant sets the 21st to 30th sheets, namely, 10-pagesingle-sided color catalogs, on the document tray of the ADF 21 as thesecond bundle of the document D, it is necessary to alter the readsettings. Accordingly, the registrant depresses the “SettingsAlteration” icon.

In response to the “Settings Alteration” icon being depressed, the maincontrol section 20 determines that the settings alteration mode foraltering the read settings (scan parameters) has been selected.Accordingly, the main control section 20 controls the liquid crystaldisplay section 24 a to display the settings alteration menu used foraltering the read settings. Based on this display, the read settings arealtered (ST4). In this case, the read mode is changed to “photograph”,and the color mode is changed to “color.” Then, the registrant depresseseither the start button of the control panel 24 or the start icon of theliquid crystal display section 24 a, thereby designating the start ofthe operation (ST 5).

In response to this, the images which the scanner section 22 reads fromthe document D fed by the ADF 21 are recorded in the page memory 26, andare then recorded in the HDD 33 of the controller 12.

The control section 31 of the controller 12 accumulatively records imagedata groups corresponding to the bundles of the sequential document andthe total recording capacity in the memory section 31 a. Thereafter, theprocessing returns to the feeding of the document D.

The processing starting from the feeding of the document D and ending tothe accumulative recording processing of the image data capacity isrepeated.

During the processing for the second bundle, the registrant maydesignate an interruption (by depressing the stop key of the controlpanel 22). Alternatively, it may happen that an unrecoverable error mayoccur in the digital copying machine 11 or the controller 12 (jamming ofa document D or a recording error in the HDD 33) (ST 6). In this case,the main control section 20 deletes the image data from the HDD 33 andfurther deletes the image data corresponding to the second bundle fromthe HDD 33 (the image data corresponding to the first bundle areretained). In addition, the main control section 20 deletes the capacitythat has been accumulatively recorded in the memory section 31 a inrelation to the second bundle (ST 16), and the main control section 20returns to the state in which it was at the start of the processing ofthe second bundle.

After the deletion, the main control section 20 executes the processingsimilar to that of step 11 described above. That is, the main controlsection 20 controls the liquid crystal display section 24 a to show thescan parameters and results of processing corresponding to the firstbundle, as shown in FIG. 7. At the time, the liquid crystal controlsection 24 a displays the message indicating that the number of times ofrepetition corresponds to the completion of one bundle, the order ofregistration is the reverse order, the read mode (read settings) is“text”, the color mode is “monochromatic”, the resolution is “400 dpi”,the document size is “A4”, the double/single-sided mode is the“double-sided” mode, the image rotation is “0°”, the number of readpages is “20”, and the read data size is 360 KB. Simultaneous with this,the “All Deletion”, “Bundle Deletion”, “Read Completion”, “SettingsAlteration”, and “Read Start” icons are displayed.

In this display state, the registrant sets the document D correspondingto the second bundle on the document tray of the ADF 21 once again, andthen depresses the icon for settings alteration. Then, the processingadvances to step 4.

When the processing for the second bundle is being processed, the maincontrol section 20 controls the liquid crystal display section 24 a todisplay the number image pages read until then, and also display thenumber of image pages recorded (ST 7), as shown in FIG. 6. On the liquidcrystal display section 24 a, the message as to whether or not thereading should be continued and the icon used for selecting thesuccessive reading operation are kept displayed.

When the processing for the second bundle is being processed, thecontrol section 31 determines whether or not the total recordingcapacity of the sequential document recorded in the memory section 31 ahas exceeded the maximal image data capacity (limit size) (ST 8). If thedetermination shows that the total recording capacity has exceeded themaximal image data capacity, the control section 31 determines that thefirst bundle has exceeded the limitations. Based on this determination,the control section 31 deletes the image data on the second bundle fromthe HDD 33 and also deletes the accumulative recording capacitycorresponding to the second bundle (ST 16).

After this deletion, the main control section 20 controls the liquidcrystal display section 24 a to show the warning message regardinglimitations, namely, “Error: Image Data Size of One Job Has ExceededLimitations”, and recommended settings of “Resolution: 200 dpi”. Inaddition, the liquid crystal display section 24 a shows the messageindicating that the number of times of repetition corresponds to “SecondBundle”, the order of registration is “Reverse Order”, the number ofpages subjected to image reading is “25” and the number of pagessubjected to image recording. On the liquid crystal display section 24a, the message “Image Corresponding to Bundle Have Been Deleted” and theicon used for entering “OK” are kept displayed.

When the “OK” icon has been depressed in this display state, the maincontroller 20 executes processing similar to that of step 11 describedabove. That is, the main control section 20 controls the liquid crystalsection 24 a to show the scan parameters and results of processingcorresponding to the bundle, as shown in FIG. 12. At the time, theliquid crystal control section 24 a displays the message indicating thatthe number of times of repetition corresponds to the completion of onebundle, the order of registration is the reverse order, the read mode(read settings) is “text”, the color mode is “monochromatic”, theresolution is “400 dpi”, the document size is “A4”, thedouble/single-sided mode is the “double-sided” mode, the image rotationis “0°”, the number of read pages is “20”, and the read data size is 360KB. Simultaneous with this, the “All Deletion”, “Bundle Deletion”, “ReadCompletion”, “Settings Alteration”, and “Read Start” icons aredisplayed.

In this display state, the registrant sets the document D correspondingto the second bundle on the document tray of the ADF 21 once again, andthen depresses the icon for settings alteration. Then, the processingadvances to step 4.

When the processing for the second bundle is completed in a normalmanner, that is, when all pages of the document D set on the documenttray of the ADF 21 have been fed and the image data read therefrom havebeen recorded in the HDD 33, the main control section 20 and the controlsection 31 determine the end of the reading of the bundle (ST 9).

If the successive reading is not selected (designated) by the registrant(ST 10), the main control section 20 controls the liquid crystal displaysection 24 a to display all read results, “Delete”, “UP” and “DOWN”icons for editing, and the guide message “Registration of Document?”along with “YES” and “NO” icons (ST 12), as shown in FIG. 10.

If, in this display state, bundle number 1 is selected, and the “DOWN”icon is depressed, the contents of bundle number 2 are shown in place ofthose of bundle number 1. The “DOWN” icon and the “UP” icon can be usedfor changing the order of recording. If bundle number 1 corresponds tothe unnecessary bundle, bundle 1 is selected and the “Delete” icon isdepressed, thus deleting the contents of bundle number 1.

If the “YES” icon is depressed in the display state (ST 13), the controlsection 31 determines that the processing comes to final recording, andthe image data corresponding to the bundle are recorded in the HDD 33 asa group of document image data (ST 14). Thereafter, the main controlsection 20 and the control section 31 complete the read job (ST 15).

If the registrant depresses the “NO” icon in the display state of step12, the controller 31 advances to step 11.

If the successive reading is selected (designated) by the registrant inStep 10 described above, the main control section 20 controls the liquidcrystal section 24 a to show the scan parameters and results ofprocessing corresponding to the second bundle (ST 11), as shown in FIG.9. At the time, the liquid crystal control section 24 a displays themessage indicating that the number of times of repetition corresponds tothe completion of one bundle, the order of registration is the reverseorder, the read mode (read settings) is “photograph”, the color mode is“color”, the resolution is “400 dpi”, the document size is “A4”, thedouble/single-sided mode is the “double-sided” mode, the image rotationis “0°”, the number of read pages is “30”, and the read data size is 540KB. Simultaneous with this, the “All Deletion”, “Bundle Deletion”, “ReadCompletion”, “Settings Alteration”, and “Read Start” icons aredisplayed.

In the state where the information on the second bundle is displayed instep 11, the registrant sets the third bundle of the document on thedocument tray of the ADF 21, and then depresses the “SettingsAlteration” icon, thereby advancing to step 4.

The recording processing for the third and fourth bundles of thedocument D is executed with respect to the HDD 33 in a similar manner tothat described above.

When the recording processing for the fourth bundle of the document Dhas been executed with respect to the HDD 33 (ST 9), the successiverecording is not designated (ST 10). Consequently, the main controlsection 20 advances to step 12. In this step, the main control section20 controls the liquid crystal display section 24 a to display all readresults, “Delete”, “UP” and “DOWN” icons for editing, and the guidemessage “Registration of Document?” along with “YES” and “NO” icons (ST12).

If the “YES” icon is depressed in the display state (ST 13), the controlsection 31 determines that the processing comes to final recording, andthe image data corresponding to the fourth bundle are recorded in theHDD 33 as a group of document image data (ST 14). Thereafter, the maincontrol section 20 and the control section 31 complete the read job (ST15).

If the “All Deletion” icon is depressed in the display state of step 11described above, the processing advances to step S17. Likewise, theprocessing advances to step 16 if the “Bundle Deletion” icon isdepressed, to step 12 if the “Read Completion” icon is depressed, tostep 4 if the “Settings Alteration” icon is depressed, and to step 6 ifthe “Read Start” icon is depressed.

In the command-awaiting menu displayed when the processing returns fromstep 13 to step 11, the icon for the bundle deletion cannot be selected.

In the embodiment described above, if the jamming of a document D occursin step 6, the bundle of the document D is checked. If that bundle isthe first bundle, the image data on the job of step 17 are deleted. Ifit is the second or subsequent bundle, the image data on the bundle thatis being processed in step 16 are deleted. However, this in no wayrestricts the present invention. For example, the registrant may removethe jamming of the document D, set it on the ADF 21 once again, andrestart the operation. In this case, the main control section 20controls the liquid crystal display section 24 a to show a guide menu,such as that shown in FIG. 13, so as to indicate the occurrence ofjamming in the ADF. When the jamming is removed on the basis of thedisplayed menu, and the restart is designated, a menu (such as thatshown in FIG. 6) indicating that a read operation is being executed, isdisplayed, as shown in FIG. 14.

As described above, present invention is directed to an image readingapparatus which is provided with an automatic document feeder(hereinafter referred to as an ADF) and which enables registration ofimage data as one piece of data even when a document is read as a numberof bundles (each bundle includes at least one page and is not more thanthe loading capacity of the ADF).

Owing to this, when document images are divided into two or more bundlesfor successive reading, different read settings can be determined fordifferent bundles.

In addition, when document images are divided into two or more bundlesfor successive reading, results of a read operation for each bundle canbe confirmed.

Further, when document images are divided into two or more bundles forsuccessive reading, results of a read operation for each bundle can beedited.

Moreover, when document images are divided into two or more bundles forsuccessive reading, an abnormal situation during the read operation fora bundle can be coped with by restoring that bundle into the originalstate.

In the embodiment described above, if the limit based on the maximalimage data capacity handled by a controller is exceeded during the readprocessing of a bundle in step 8, the bundle of the document D ischecked. If that bundle is the first bundle, the image data on the jobof step 17 are deleted. If it is the second or subsequent bundle, theimage data on the bundle that is being processed in step 16 are deleted.However, this in no way restricts the present invention. For example,when the limit based on the maximal image data capacity handled by acontroller is about to be exceeded during the read processing of abundle in step 8, the image data on the job of step 17 may be deleted ifthe related bundle is the first one, and the image data on the bundlethat is being processed in step 16 may be deleted if the bundle inquestion is the second or subsequent one.

A check may be made as to whether the limit based on the maximal imagedata capacity corresponding to one bundle handled by the digital copyingmachine has been exceeded, or whether that limit is about to beexceeded. These conditions may be used as a basis for determination instep 8.

In addition, the determination in step 8 may be made when the bundle isbeing read or after the bundle is read.

In other words, when one bundle is being read or after it is read, theread results corresponding to each bundle and the accumulative readresults are automatically checked and presented to the registrant. Ifthe registrant determines that the registration of the bundle that isbeing read is not proper, then the registrant can cancel theregistration of that bundle and restore it into the original state.

The registrant can make a judgment based on a predetermined limit. Ifone limit or another is violated, the related bundle can beautomatically canceled and restored into the original state. Since theregistrant is informed of the results of judgment, he or she can alterthe settings to be appropriate to a reread operation.

Alternatively, the registrant can make a judgment based on apredetermined limit. If one limit or another is about to be reached, theregistrant is warned and notified of recommended settings. Based on thisnotification, the registrant can make the final decision as to whetheror not the corresponding bundle or already-read bundles should beregistered. In addition, the registrant can alter the read settings forthe subsequent bundles to be appropriate.

After a plurality of bundles are read, the read results can becomprehensibly indicated as a list. If the already-read bundles includeone about which the final determination is made as being improper toregistration, such a bundle can be designated for operation and editing.

Even if the reading operation of a bundle is interrupted for some reasonor other, the interruption has an effect only on that bundle. In otherwords, the data obtained by the registration operation performed beforethe interruption of the bundle can be retained. As a result, theregistration can be resumed with a minimum extra operation at the timeof the occurrence of a trouble.

1. An image reading apparatus comprising: automatic document feeder forsetting a sequential document in units of one bundle; control panel forentering read settings for the document set by the automatic documentfeeder; reading means for sequentially reading each bundle of thedocument set by the automatic document feeder in units of one page onthe basis of the read settings entered by the control panel; recordingmeans for recording image data on the document read by the reading meanssuch that the image data corresponding to one bundle are recordedtogether; processing means, operating when abnormality occurs duringread processing which the reading means performs with respect to one ofthe bundles of the document, for deleting from the recording means imagedata corresponding to a bundle for which the abnormality occurs, and forrestoring the bundle to an original state; and notification means forshowing what type of abnormality has occurred.
 2. An image readingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the read settings entered by thecontrol panel include settings regarding a read mode, a color mode, aresolution, a document size, a double/single-sided mode and an imagerotation.
 3. An image reading apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe control panel includes the notification means.
 4. An image readingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording means comprises ahard disk.
 5. An image reading apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising an interface for external communications.
 6. An image readingapparatus comprising: automatic document feeder for setting a sequentialdocument in units of one bundle; control panel for entering readsettings for the document set by the automatic document feeder; readingmeans for sequentially reading each bundle of the document set by theautomatic document feeder in units of one page on the basis of the readsettings entered by the control panel; recording means for recordingimage data on the document read by the reading means such that the imagedata corresponding to one bundle are recorded together; first alterationmeans for altering the read settings entered by the control panel whenthe automatic document feeder sets a second and subsequent bundles ofthe document; first processing means for causing the reading means toread the document set by the automatic document feeder such that thedocument is read in units of one page on the basis of the read settingsaltered by the first alteration means, and for controlling the recordingmeans to record read images; output means for outputting read resultswhich represent how the reading means reads each bundle of the documentand also outputting recording results which represent how the recordingmeans operates; designation means for designating an alteration of anorder in which the image data recorded by the recording means andcorresponding to the bundles of the document are arranged; secondalternation means for altering an order in which the image data recordedby the recording means and corresponding to the bundles of the documentare arranged; second processing means, operating when abnormality occursduring read processing which the reading means performs with respect toone of the bundles of the document, for deleting from the recordingmeans image data corresponding to a bundle for which the abnormalityoccurs, and for restoring the bundle to the original state; andnotification means for showing what type of abnormality has occurred. 7.An image reading apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the readsettings entered by the control panel include settings regarding a readmode, a color mode, a resolution, a document size, a double/single-sidedmode and an image rotation.
 8. An image reading apparatus according toclaim 6, wherein the control panel includes the notification means. 9.An image reading apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the recordingmeans comprises a hard disk.
 10. An image reading apparatus according toclaim 6, further comprising an interface for external communications.11. A digital copying machine comprising: automatic document feeder forsetting a sequential document in units of one bundle; control panel forentering read settings for the document set by the automatic documentfeeder; reading means for sequentially reading each bundle of thedocument set by the automatic document feeder in units of one page onthe basis of the read settings entered by the control panel; recordingmeans for recording image data on the document read by the reading meanssuch that the image data corresponding to one bundle are recordedtogether; processing means, operating when abnormality occurs duringread processing which the reading means performs with respect to one ofthe bundles of the document, for deleting from the recording means imagedata corresponding to a bundle for which the abnormality occurs, and forrestoring the bundle to an original state; notification means forshowing what type of abnormality has occurred; and a printer section forprinting data corresponding to a document fed by the automatic documentfeeder.
 12. A digital copying machine according to claim 11, wherein theread settings entered by the control panel include settings regarding aread mode, a color mode, a resolution, a document size, adouble/single-sided mode and an image rotation.
 13. A digital copyingmachine according to claim 11, wherein the control panel includes thenotification means.
 14. A digital copying machine according to claim 11,wherein the recording means comprises a hard disk.
 15. A digital copyingmachine according to claim 11, further comprising an interface forexternal communications.
 16. A digital copying machine according toclaim 15, wherein the printer section outputs externally received data.